With free agency starting this week, Major League Baseball has recommended a delay to the start of a proposed salary cap - under a new CBA - until 2028, as teams will have too many pre-existing commitments ahead of the 2027 season.

With this new proposal, the projected salary cap would be USD $258.2 million, with a proposed salary floor of USD $180.2 million.

“We recognise that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system," said MLB spokesman Glen Caplin in a statement.

“This proposal would allow a smoother transition into the cap and floor system without delaying key player benefits, including earlier free agency, a $1 million minimum salary, a 30% increase to the pre-arbitration bonus pool and transactional reform that will reduce roster churn.”

The current MLB collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1st. The MLB Players Association does not want to accept a salary cap and floor system, and would rather keep the current system, with modifications geared to assist both big- and small-market teams, such as increasing the tax threshold and minimum salary.

The MLBPA have accused owners of "blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values."

This new system would affect at least 20 teams in the league, with both decreasing and increasing payroll required to fit the proposed bands.

The Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and Milwaukee Brewers are the 12 teams that would all have to increase their payroll to help them hit the salary floor, a total of at least $636 million across the 12 teams.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox are the eight teams that would have to decrease their payroll to fall below the projected new salary cap, with this combined decrease totalling at least $528 million.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from players and fans; some don't see the need for the salary change, since four small-market teams made the postseason in 2026, and the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays both made the World Series, with the Brewers coming out on top. Among the big-market teams, four made the postseason, with the Dodgers going the furthest, eliminated by the Brewers in the NLCS.

So, fans don't see the need for change if big-market teams aren't dominating the small-market teams. Other fans suggest that the change would help bring teams closer across the board to make the league more competitive, particularly after the league's highest payroll - the LA Dodgers - won the previous two World Series'.

If this change comes in 2028, it could significantly affect teams and how owners structure their rosters.

Declan Brown
Declan Brown
Declan Brown is a passionate sports writer with a particular interest in basketball and the NFL. With a keen eye for statistics and the analytical side of sport, he enjoys breaking down performances, uncovering emerging trends and delivering the latest news and insights to fans.